Thermal Energy Study Guide
!
• A good conductor __________ . transfers heat quickly
!
• What metal is one of the best conductor of heat? copper
!
• Air is a poor conductor of heat
Explanation: Metals are all good conductors of heat. Air is a good insulator.
!
• The process by which fast-moving molecules transfer their energy directly to slower-moving
molecules is called _______. conduction
!
• Heat energy will travel through a metal pan on the stove by _______. conduction
!
• Heat is conducted when _______.
molecules transfer their warmer energy to cooler molecules which are moving slower.
!
• You jump into a swimming pool on a day when the air temperature is 100°F and the water is 80°F.
Which statement correctly describes the flow of heat?
Heat flows from the warmer object (your body - 98°F) to the cooler object (the water).
!
• Heat always _______.
moves from faster molecules (warmer) to slower molecules (cooler)
• Materials that do not conduct heat well are called _______. insulators
• A winter coat is an example of _______. an insulator
Winter coats are filled with air pockets. Air is a good insulator.
!
• Would you need a material that is a good conductor or insulator for cooking food fast? conductors
!
Stepping from a carpet onto a tile floor, your bare feet suddenly feel cold because ___________.
the tile is a better conductor than the carpet
The tile is a better conductor than the carpet, so it conducts heat quickly from your feet.
!
• When hot and cold water mixed together reach the same temperature, the water has reached
___________. thermal equilibrium
!
• When a glass of water reaches thermal equilibrium it means that___________.
the heat is the same temperature throughout the water
!
• Which statement is true about a convection current in water?
Cold water sinks and warm water rises.
In a convection cell, cold water, which is denser than warm water, sinks and pushes the warm water
upward.
!
• Heat transfer by movement in a fluid or gas is called _____.
convection
!
• Wind is an example of ______________.
convection
!
• Convection is caused by ________________. unequal heating
• Calories are units that express measurement of _________. heat
A calorie is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one
degree Celsius.
!
• What happens when an ice cube melts in a glass of water? Heat is transferred from the warmer water to the ice cubes.
!
• How will the rising of a hot air balloon in cold air be different than if it rises in warm air?
It will rise faster in cooler air.
The difference in temperature will cause the balloon to rise faster. Hot air balloonists prefer cool days
to fly their balloons.
!
• When molecules in a substance vibrate faster and faster, what happens to the temperature of the
substance? It gets warmer.
As molecules vibrate faster, the temperature increases. As the temperature increases, it gets
warmer.
!
• Water freezes at what temperature on the Celsius scale? 0 degrees
!
Which statement is true about a small glass and a large glass filled with water that is the same
temperature? The large glass has more heat than the small glass.
Since both glasses are the same temperature, and the large glass contains more water, the large glass
has more heat.
!
• The sea level boiling point of water on the Fahrenheit scale is ________. 212 degrees
!
• The heat from a light bulb is in the form of ________. infrared waves
!
• Energy that travels as electromagnetic waves is called ________. radiation
!
• Heat travels through space as _________. infrared waves
!
• A marshmallow roasted over a fire without touching is heated by __________. infrared waves
!
• Cooling most materials causes the material to do what? contract
!
• What causes thermal expansion? increasing kinetic energy of the molecules in an object
!
• Thermal contraction is caused by _________.cooling
!
• Adding heat to most materials causes the material to _______. expand
• Thermal expansion is caused by _______. heating
!
• What causes thermal contraction? decreasing the kinetic energy of the molecules in an object
!
!
• Which kind of energy transfers between molecules of touching substances during conduction?
kinetic energy
!
• Which kind of energy transfers by conduction? thermal energy
!
• What does temperature measure? the kinetic energy of molecules in an object
!
• What kind of material can transfer heat by conduction? solids, liquids, and gases
!
• Which tool is designed to use the principle of thermal expansion and contraction? a thermometer
!
• Which process causes a hot air balloon to inflate? thermal expansion
!
• Different materials expand and contract at different rates.
!
• What may happen to a bridge on hot days if it is not engineered to withstand thermal expansion and
contraction? buckling may occur due to expansion
!
What causes the liquid in a thermometer to rise and fall?
!
thermal expansion and contraction
Delete: Specific Heat, Convention Current, Polarization, Interference, Deflect, Diffuse, Transmission,
Deflect, Waves, Fluids, Kinetic Theory of Matter, Types of Energy
!
!